Driving is a luxury.
It is a luxury that we are all so used to it feels more of a right rather
than a privilege. It is seen as something that has to be done and learned, not something we get to
learn about and participate it. This mindset has effected the way we as people take on the
responsibility of driving. We ignore the dangers of distracted driving because we combine the
privilege of driving a car with the privilege of having the whole world at our
fingertips. There are some individuals who are very aware of the risks involved
with distracted driving. They are affected by it nearly every day.
He’s a man who wakes up around noon everyday. No not because he’s lazy, but
because he works 14 hours every night (at least) to supply his family with
everything they need. While doing so he is constantly looked over during his
work. He is seen as nuisance on the road, someone who’s job is extremely under
appreciated. Most don’t even realize that without him so many luxuries of the
modern world would not exist. That man is a truck driver and his name is Spencer
Shipley. Spencer delivers lime dust to a well-known mine in Salt Lake City. His
usual route involves Delta city, Nephi city, I-15, and Banagder Highway. The last
two roads are the ones that gives him the most trouble. They are usually filled with
other drivers, especially the freeway, which is currently under construction. During
his time on this road there are endless examples of distracted driving, and just as
many examples of the consequences of this action.
The Semi-Truck
Imagine that a truck similar to the one on the left, that is so large and heavy is riding
down the road next to you. Not just any road, but I-15. The highway where cars are going 75-80
miles per hour. Even the trucks that have governed speeds, certain speeds they cant go over, are
moving a fast pace of at least 65 miles an hour (Shipley & Shipley "Interview With a Truck
Driver" 2019). You’re aware it’s there. You can see it in the mirrors, hear the engine and the
sound of rubber tires gliding down the street. You can see it, but car in the other lane, on the right
side of the semi, the most dangerous side of the semi, doesn’t see him. Not because the semi is in
that cars blind spot, because you get a glimpse of a silver case propped on the wheel. A phone. It
doesn’t even look like that driver is holding on to the wheel and his eyes aren’t on the road. Each
one of those is a different form of distracted driving ("Distracted Driving Motor
Vehicle Safety CDC Injury Center" 2019)! Then it happens. That car merges over.
Without even looking. The CDC explains that everyday in
the United States 9 people are killed and more than 1,000 other are injured
because of a distracted driver ("Distracted Driving Motor Vehicle Safety CDC
Injury Center" 2019). That’s 9 lives that are taken from the world. 9 lives that
were affected by poor decision making. You pull your car over to the side of the
road. The wind is blowing hard, and you can smell oil, gas and burnt rubber. The
small 4-door sedan has been completely totaled, and the large semi doesn’t even
look like it has a scratch on it.
Myself at Work
This is a story that’s a very real possibility for Spencer. He is the driver of the truck
pictured above. And although he is blessed and does not have a story like the one above Shipley
has had very close calls. His truck is about 100 feet long and weighs up to 130,000 pounds when
fully loaded with the precious cargo. It’s an oversized vehicle, but because of his ability to
remain in his lane he requires no flags or police escorts. It’s a massive vehicle. (Shipley &
Shipley "Interview With a Truck Driver" 2019).
He drives down the road. The weather is calm, as the day turns into the night. traffic is a
little busier that usual, but it’s nothing he can’t handle. Carefully trying to maintain his lane in
the busy construction area. He looks out his window to a gray mini-van. A mom sits with one
hand on the wheel. Her upper body is twisted around, as she tries to reach into the back seat. A
silver circle in her hand. It appears to be a DVD. He can see a small figure in the back seat, legs
kicking as if the child was throwing a tantrum. It’s another distracted driver. Most likely just an
exhausted mom, who’s trying her best, not even realizing that because her eyes are off the road
she’s putting everyone around her in danger. Another driver a few minutes down the road has his
writs laying on the wheel, he’s using both hands to text, or make a call, or surf social media.
Whatever it is, it’s not driving. This is another driver who putting everyone around him at risk. If
Shipley were to do any of these, especially a movie, because he doesn’t have a DVD player, he
would lose his job. The camera in his truck, activated by harsh braking or bumps, would switch
on so fast there would be no time to cover the fact he was on the phone. He would lose his job.
Even in his personal vehicle, getting caught with distracted driving will impact his career. It
could even make it so that he loses his CDL and would never be able to work for another
trucking company again.
He thinks too himself “Why can’t people just keep their phones
down? Is it really that hard? Maybe more laws need to be made that
would prevent people from doing such horrible things.” However,
there are so many laws in regards to distracted driving. Many that
people aren’t even aware of or have mis-information on. Technically
speaking it is illegal to use a hand held device in the car, such as
talking on the phone while driving, not necessarily texting. One
problem is, in some states, like the state of Utah, this is a secondary
offense. Meaning you will have to get pulled over for something else,
such as no seatbelt, or having a light out in order to get a ticket for
using a phone ("Here are the legal reasons you shouldn't use your
phone while driving" 2019). This law can be seen as a contributor to
the distracted driving epidemic, because an individual could be doing
everything else right except for their phone, and the authorities have
virtually no power.
My Sister- The Distracted Driver
“Distracted Driving | Motor Vehicle Safety | CDC Injury Center.” Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 16 Sept. 2019, [Link]
motorvehiclesafety/distracted_driving/[Link].
Flannagan, Carol A. “Texting Bans, a Possibly Low-Cost and Effective Means to Help Improve
Motor Vehicle Safety.” American Journal of Public Health, vol. 109, no. 5, May 2019, pp. 663–
665.
“Here Are the Legal Reasons You Shouldn't Use Your Phone While Driving.” [Link], 26
Sept. 2019, [Link]
your-phone-while-driving/.
Shipley, Rachel. The Semi-Truck.
Shipley, Rachel. My Sisiter- The Distracted Driver.
Shipley, Spencer. Myself at work
Shipley, Spencer S. Personal Interview. 01 October 2019.